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Apr 21, 2011

Guy With A Library Card: Issue 07

ButterflyWritten by M

Usually these writings have come inspired
by a trip to the library concerning something topical in my life. Straying from
that a little bit, I'm gonna talk about some movies I have watched in past
trips but actually relate to something relevant today. This entry that may need
some parental guidance due to some X-rated controversy. Now I have your
attention. So let's begin this story with something you should write down. In
the words of my hero, Van, “Sex Sells”.

Last Monday, I was going through the
LeaderPost during my lunch break and came across the story of a 14 year old boy
and his school administrator. Frankly, I didn't know how to take it because the
whole thing seemed made up, just like a classic episode of Jerry Springer. But
I kept reminding myself that the story came to the LeaderPost, a reputable
newspaper, from another reputable source the Montreal Gazette. Sources so good
I couldn't get it out of my head. Anyways the gist of the story is that the 14
year old exposed the administrator for starring in porn. Not sure what is more
wrong with this situation, the fact she made such a decision, or the fact that
a 14 year old was watching it. I recommend reading and watching the stuff from
CBC. It's pretty bizarre.

A long time ago, I took out a movie called Inside
Deep Throat. Up until this point I was pretty indifferent on the subject of
pornography. If you don't know, this documentary covers all the issues of the
70's porn movie Deep Throat. Which is most noted for being the most
profitable movie of all time. As we follow several story points, you slowly
come to terms with how pornography shaped our society. I left this movie
thinking everything is the way it is today because of porn. If you think about
it the legacy of Deep Throat is huge. Money and Mafia aside, it spawned
the name of the Watergate scandal mole or if you watch Slap Shot, Deep
Throat is the movie playing at the theatre as the parade passes by. All of
this commercial recognition through the fights, the censorship and lawsuits. Deep
Throat stirred up a nation and spurred a new generation of filmmakers,
piracy and endless debate.

I came away from this movie thinking that
it is actually hypocritical that we have a film school that studies all genres
except for pornography. I even had this conversation with a feminist film prof
who to my surprise, agreed with me. Although she hadn't seen either film she
knew enough about the social impact back then and still today. Done
intelligently enough, the class could have been one of the most educational classes
in film school. With all that said, I find Inside Deep Throat is a movie
that most people don't know about despite rave reviews. This movie has
everything a great documentary should have, in parts it's funny, in others it's
serious, it makes you think, its topic is more interesting than just dissecting
a movie and it's entertaining. So when the appropriate time comes, if you can
stomach some graphic content and get over any ridicule you might face, I highly
recommend InsideDeep Throat.

In 1969 there was a movie called Midnight
Cowboy, starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman that won three Academy
awards including Best Picture. It is the only X rated film to ever win the Best
Picture. Which brings me to movie number two on my list This Film Is Not Yet
Rated. The MPAA is the organization that rates movies. It gave the X rating
to Midnight Cowboy and for some reason changed its rating system. That
is the basis of the movie. Who runs the MPAA and how do they make decisions?
With testimonials from filmmakers and the rating issues that had them
scratching their heads will leave you doing the same. The only fallback of the
film for me is the fact that they did some undercover investigating and really
didn't answer anything. However, at times it made the show a little more
entertaining. Not quite as intriguing but a little lighter, This Film Is Not
Yet Rated may be a good film to work up to Inside Deep Throat. Also,
I would recommend after watching, you
create a wobbly pop game in which you watch old movies you like and
guess how they got their rating. Good times ahead.

Now I hope no one takes this the wrong way,
but I am not trying to condone porn or other inappropriate material. I just
want you to educate yourself and come up with your own opinions of exploitation,
the difference between media's influence and which way that influence flows.
How these inappropriate influences shape our world we live in whether its good
or bad. Think of what this means to the story of the 14 year old and the school
administrator. The access the 14 year old had to pornography and how it's
regulated. The guidance or lack there of in the decision process of the
administrator. And where we go from here as a society. We regulate and regulate
but human freedoms tear the walls down and social disorder prevails. There is
no right direction in life but I can guarantee you we all create the direction
we are going. History is what it is and the topics of these two films play a
pivotal roll in this direction whether you like it or not. Its a small piece of
the pie that forms our society but to understand where we are it may be helpful
to know why and how we got there.

1 comment
:

I think the story with the school administrator was blown out of proportion. She wasn't bringing it into the school, she was an adult and it is legal to be in pornography, and it was the 14 year old who technically was not 'of age' to be on that kind of website in the first place - which I know another bogus topic.

I think society is in need of a sexual revolution of sorts. Violence in films is almost common place, and yet sex is so taboo. I say it's better to educate than regulate, and let people make decisions (that don't harm others) themselves.